Internationally renowned artist Mackenzie Thorpe is one of the most interesting and original talents at work today. Raised in the industrial town of Middlesbrough in the 1950s, his father worked as a labourer and his mother as an auxiliary nurse. Life for the Thorpe family was no different to that of most of their community - at times a struggle. Mackenzie acknowledges mixed emotions about this period in his life. He remembers the strong feeling of community spirit, the warmth and humor that flourished in the face of adversity, as well as the loneliness and isolation, the fear and darkness that were ever present.

The need and compulsion to draw was obvious from an early age and remains with Mackenzie today. As a child, he would seek out whatever raw materials he could find, drawing on cigarette packs with stubs of pencils or using eyeshadow and lipstick, illicitly obtained from his mum's makeup bag! Suffering from dyslexia throughout his childhood, Mackenzie found confidence in painting and drawing. Unsurprisingly, he left school without formal qualifications, taking on a variety of manual, unskilled jobs while continuing to draw and paint.

After three years earning money to supplement the family income, Mackenzie eventually plucked up courage to enter the local Art College. His lack of education and a barely readable application form did nothing to warrant support, but the strength and volume of work that Mackenzie presented, coupled with his enthusiasm and commitment, won him a place at Middlesbrough College of Art and subsequently the Byam Shaw School of Art in London.

Mackenzie presented, coupled with his enthusiasm and commitment, won him a place at Middlesbrough College of Art and subsequently the Byam Shaw School of Art in London.

After leaving art school, Mackenzie spent several years working with inner-city children in London, before moving to Richmond in North Yorkshire to set up a studio as well as his own gallery with his wife Susan and children Owen and Chloe. Since then, he has become one of Britain's most collectable and best loved artists. Recent accolades have included a 'Best Published Artist' Award from the Fine Art Trade Guild; an Honorary Master of Arts degree from the University of Teeside; and completing five official Christmas cards for Conservative Politician William Hague.

His limited editions sell out on release and there is huge demand for his original pastels, with every exhibition eagerly awaited by his ever-increasing number of collectors.

Mackenzie's works express an entire range of human emotion, from the special bond of love and friendship, to the importance of self-reflection and individual triumphs. His works are a tribute to the creativity within us all and are a vivid expression of hope and the human spirit. Ultimately, Mackenzie's message of life is a profound one. He doesn't hide the fact that often life is a struggle, a dark tunnel which can seem endless. But he passionately believes that our frail dreams are worth nurturing and that love and honesty will triumph over adversity